SeeJakeandJaneTrainMichelleBlakelyandWGB
My father is no longer with me. Losing a battle with lung cancer in 2006, I have spent the past ten years and life milestones with out him. Despite his absence, he continues to help me as a person and as a professional. I am terribly grateful. And, maybe there is something we can all take from him.

He had faith in me. An unearned, unwavering and childlike faith in what I could accomplish. We, at times, did not communicate well. We, also, at times, did not understand one another. But his gift to me was the faith that I could do whatever I set my mind to. That kind of blind faith from someone that loved me is sometimes exactly what I needed and need during the challenges of owning my first, and now, second business.

There are people in your life that bolster you in some way. Even if they don’t understand exactly what you are going through, their faith in is a tremendous gift when the rest of the world says we can’t, we shouldn’t or we won’t. (And, as individuals owning our own jobs and businesses, the world says that a lot.)

This Father’s Day, I invite you to look at what your father gave you and how his influence can keep giving to you. Every relationship is complicated. Take time to focus on the good, the silver linings if you have to.

What positive example did he set? What encouragement did he provide? What lessons did he teach, intended or unintended? How could you grab onto that and use it as a source of strength or fuel? Could you use it when your business is struggling, you need a new solution or your skill set is being tested? It is his gift to you.

And your gift to him and to yourself is to use it.

Our gratitude to all of the great fathers inspiring the self-employed, independents, and small business owners to believe, aim high and forge ahead. Happy Father’s Day, dads, and thank you!